Wrench



G. FORTON.

WRENCH. APPL'ICATION FILED JAN-13, i920.

l 1,347,69 1 Patented July '27, 1920.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE FORTON,' OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

. WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application-filed January 13, 1920. `Serial No. 351,118.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be lit known that I, GEORGE FonroN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Detroit, in the county of Vayne and State of Michigan, have invented Cerquire operations of this type and for this reason the invention is illustrated and described in connection with this form. For instance, one of the uses for which the present invention is particularly adapted is iinder conditions where the head of a .bolt is located ,atan inconvenient position and yet must be held while the nut isV being positioned on the other side; or the conditions may be such as to require the threading of the nut byrotation of the bolt with the head'V located at such inconvenient point; or the nutmay'V be at an inconvenient point and it be essential that the threading action be Vby movement rotativ'ely of the nut. Y

The'present invention is designed toprovide a wrenchcapable of meeting conditions of this type and at the .same time provide a construction which is simple and efficient in operation, durable in construction,. andv which can be manufactured at a relatively low cost.

To these and other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be understood, as the invention is hereinafter disclosed said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, and moie particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several forms are .illustrated andin which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views,

Figure l is a plan yview of a simple embodiment of the present invention; a portion of the handle being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, parts being shown in section, and parts being in a differentA position from that shown in If ig. l;

Patented J ii1y27 1920.

Fig. 3 is a View partlyv in section and,r

partly in elevation of the structure of Fig.l

2 with the Lpartsvin a different position@ Fig. 4 is a detail view of aimodiied form of the socket portion of the wrench which may be employed; Fig. 5 isa View partly in plan and partly .in section of a modified arrangement of wrench; v

Figs. 6 and 7 are viewsof various Imodifications, which may be employed. i'

The wrench is designedmore particularly as of the ratchet type, capable of 'ratcheting in one direction or the other andl at the same time capable of being used as ,a wrench held against ,ratchet action. This is provided, in simple form, by a handlevmemberlO, a ratchet wheel 1l, a spring pressed pawl l2 and a socket member 13, thesemembers having relative configurations. which enables the wrench to be readilyassembled in the different relations and in such manner as to permit these operations to be had.

Member l0 is formed withV an enlarged head of thebifiircated type the two parts beingindicated at lO,=these being spaced apart a distance to, receive the ratchet member ll which is simply entered into the space vbetween the portions: 10a. Portions 10l are formed with a central opening ofa y size to loosely fit the shank of the socket member and the ratchet wheel is provided with a similar opening, these openings being alined as the socket portion and the shank ,portion of the socket are passed therethrough. Member l0 is provided with a recessed head l0 into which the pawl l2 and its supporting spring is located. If desired, a suitable collar l2a maybe inserted to limit y the outward movement of the pawl.

With the ratchet wheel in position to provide the alinement of its opening with the openings of portions 10a, the shank of the socket can be readily entered, but in order to maintain the socket in its position,.it is essential that means be provided for maintaining s the socket against longitudinal movement sufficient to permit the ratchet to be displaced from a position where its opening is in alinement with the opening of the portion 10a.

In the simple form of the present invention this means is in the form of a lug 13b carried by the shank of the socket, this lug` the shank.

projecting outwardly from the periphery of To permit this lug to pass to position, the portions 10a are provided with recesses 10b of substantially the contour of a cross section of the lug and which open to the openings of portions 10, the ratchet Wheel being provided'with a similar` recess 11a in which the lug is located when the socket is in its position for operation.

In this particular form, it is preferred that recess 11a be so positioned relative to the teeth of the ratchet wheel that when the recess 11a is in alinement with recesses 10",

' the ratchet will be angularly displaced relative to pawl 12, as shown for instance, in Fig. 2. lith the parts in this position, it will be readily understood that the shank of the socket member can be passed throughV the alined openings of member 10 and ratchet 11,'and that lug 13b can readily pass through one of the openings 10b into the opening 11a, thus placing the lug in the plane of theratchet member l1. As the lug has a length not greater than the thickness of the ratchet member, it will be readily understood that if, when the parts are thus assembled, the ratchet member be shifted angularly so as to provide for the usual tooth engagement with the pawl 12, the positioned lug'lb will be out of alinement with either of the openings 10b. As the normal operation of a wrench practically locates the teeth in proper relation to pawl 12, as shown, for instance, in F ig. 3, it will be readily understood that the usual ratcheting action can be had without liability of the parts being disassembled through the dropping out of the socket member from the remaining structure, since at the particular point of time when lug 13b is in alinement with the opening 10b, the ratchet wheel is moving and little liability is had of such dropping out, especially since the socket is in engagement with the work.

Then it is desired to disassemble the structure, it is necessary only to shift the ratchet wheel angularly a distance sufficient to bring the lug 13`D into alinement with the proper recess 10b, whereupon the socket can be withdrawn, this ratchet wheel movement being possible by manipulating the socket member itself.

Obviously, the presence of a recess l()b in each of the portions 10, permits the socket member to be entered from either side, so that it is possible to provide the ratcheting operation in either direction, the change required being to shift the socket member from one side to the other of member 10.

To permit use of the wrench without ratcheting, it is necessary only to insert the shank of the socket portion a distance sufficient to enter lug 13b into either of the openings 10b without having shifted the ratchet member, the result being that the advance end of the lug will rest upon the face of the ratchet wheel and thus prevent inward travel; as the socket portion is in engagement with the work at the time, it will be readily understood that in use the combination can thus be employed either for the purpose of holding the bolt head stationary or be used to rotate the head, the lug and recess l()b providing the drive connectionbetween member l() and the socket. Should it be desired to shift to this position while the socket is in engagement with the ratchet wheel, it is necessary only to shift the latter until the lug is brought into alinement with the proper opening 10b and the socket member then be withdrawn a distance suiiicient to clear the ratchet member whereupon the lat-ter will move back to position under the action of the pavvl; thus setting the parts in desired relation.

l/Vhere it is desirable to provide such liXed relation at frequent intervals and to retain the socket member in such position, it may be desirable to employ means for maintaining the socket member against longitudinal movement in such position. This result can be obtained by employing a small spring detent 14 in lug 18h, this recess being adapted to enter a complemental recess of member 10, as shown, for instance in Fig. 7. This detent is preferably not of sufficient power to provide the drive relation between handle member 10 and socket member, that being provided by lug 13b, but is normally of such type as to maintain the socket member against longitudinal movement, especially as it is generally required only yto sustain the socket member from falling out of its position.

And, if desired, the arrangement may be such that the detent 14 can be made applicable in connection with ratchet Wheel ll, as shown for instance, in Fig. 6, and where this is provided, it is possible to shift the position of recess 11a so as to permit it to be in alinement with recesses 10b when the this being an alternative arrangement` and made possible byreason of the ability of the detent vto prevent the socket member from moving longitudinally.

As will be understood, the. arrangement is such as topermit of the use of but few parts, each of strong and substantial configuration, readily assembled, easilyshifted from one position to another to meet the various con` ditions, and which is capable ofuse under all of the conditions, which the more complicated constructions are designed to meet. Obviously, the simplicity of the structure permits of its being manufactured at a comparatively small cost, there being no neces# sity for material assembling operations for` its being practically' totally" disassembled, the only portion which is Vnot removable being the pawl structure 12, andthe Cletent structure whenthe latter is usedf, ,y

As will be understood the work engagement end of member 13 may beY of. any desired configuration, the lsocket form-being simply illustrative.; v

lVhile I have herein shown and described different ways in which the general invention herein disclosed may be carried into eect, it will readily be understood that changes and modifications therein may be found desirable or essential in meeting the exigencies of use, and I desire to be understood as reserving the rights to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found desirable or necessary, in so far as the same may fall Within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims when broadly construed.

l. A wrench comprising a handle member having a bifurcated end formed with alined openings and having a configuration to produce a ratchet member space, said member carrying a pawl operative within the space, a ratchet member having an opening adapted to aline with the handle member openings when in operative position, and a workengaging member having a shank insertible into the alined openings, said shank carrying a projecting lug, said ratchet and handle members having recesses complemental to said lug to permit positioning of the lug within the ratchet recess.

2. A wrench as in claim l, characterized by means for holding the positioned workperforming member against movement in the direction of its axis.

3. A wrench as in claim l, characterized in that the work engaging member is shiftable axially to permit of selective ratchet or non-ratchet operation.

il. A wrench comprising a handle member having a bifurcated end formed with alined openings and having a configuration to produce a ratchet member space, said member carrying a pawl operative within the space, a ratchet member having an opening adapted to aline with the handle member openings wlien in operative position, and a workengaging member having a shank insertible into the alined openings, said shank carrying a projecting lug, said ratchet and handle members having recesses complemental to said lug, the recess of the ratchet member beingout of alinement with a handle member recess when the ratchet member is in the drive position of any of its teeth.

5. A wrench comprising a handle member having a bifurcated end formed with alined openings and having a configuration to produce a ratchet member space said member carryingapawl operative within the space, f

into/the alined openings, said Ishank carrying a- ,projecting lug, said ratchet and handle members having. recesses. ycomplemental to said lug, the recess of the ratchet member being out of alinement with the handle member recess when the ratchet member is in the drive position of any of its teeth, movement of the ratchet and work-engaging members angularly away from drive position providing alinement of handle and ratchet member recesses and permitting axial movement of the work-engaging member.

6. A wrench comprising a handle memberv having a bifurcated end formed with alined openings and having a configuration to produce a ratchet member space, said member carrying a pawl operative within the space, a ratchet member having an opening adapted to aline with the handle member openings when in operative position, and a work-engaging member having a shank insertible 4into the alined openings, said shank carrying a projecting lug, said ratchet and handle members having recesses complemental to said lug, either of said recesses being adapted to coperate with the lug to provide drive relation between the handle and work-engaging members.

7. A wrench comprising a handle member having a bifurcated end formed with alined openings and having a configuration to produce a ratchet member space, said member carrying a pawl operative within the space, a ratchet member having an opening adaptgd to aline with the handle member openings when in operative position, and a work-engaging member having a shank insertible into the alined openings, said shank carrying a projecting lug, said ratchet and handle members having recesses complemental to said lug, either of the handle member recesses permitting access of the lug to the ratchet member recess whereby direction of ratchet action may be selected.

8. A wrench as in claim 6, characterized in that the ratchet member recess is out of alinement with a handle member recess when the ratchet member is in the drive position of any of its teeth, whereby the ratchet face may form a supporting abutment for the lug when the latter is coperating with such handle member recess.

9. A wrench comprising a handle member having. a bifurcated end formed with alined openings and having a configuration to produce a ratchet member space, said member carrying a pawl operative within the space, a ratchet member having an opening adapted to aline with the handle member openings b when in operative position, and a work-engagi'ng member having' e Shank insertible into the alined openings, said'shank carrying e projecting lug, said ratchet and handle members having recesses com'plemental to l said lug, whereby seid lug may be located in either of such recesses to provide drive relation between the handle and work-engagmg members, means being provided Vfor holding seid work-engaging member against axial movement when in either position.

In testimony whereol:I I aIiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

A GEORGE FORTON. Witnesses ANNA M. Dorm, CEAS. lV. STAUFFIGER. 

